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These Popular Drugs Against Allergy And Insomnia Cause Dementia! Be Careful !

Nowadays, many people only live with allergy medications and insomnia, thinking it is the best way to combat these health problems. But, a...

Nowadays, many people only live with allergy medications and insomnia, thinking it is the best way to combat these health problems. But, a new study highlights frightening risks of these medications for health. Indeed, many common anticholinergics have been linked to dementia.

Anticholinergic drugs are a class of medications prescribed for various health problems, such as spasms, allergies, sleep disorders, nausea, cough, motion sickness, and even Parkinson's disease symptoms.

Drugs related to dementia

This is not the first time researchers have found a link between anticholinergic drugs and cognitive decline. This latest study published in JAMA Neurology is however unique. In fact, researchers at Indiana University used brain imaging to detect the impact of anticholinergic drugs on the brain.

Thanks to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and PET imaging (a medical imaging method practiced by nuclear medicine specialists, which allows a three-dimensional measurement of a metabolic or molecular activity of an organ), researchers showed that people taking anticholinergic medications had lower brain metabolism and higher brain atrophy. They also have very low results regarding memory tests.

In 2015, scientists at the University of Washington also found that chronic use of certain anticholinergic sleeping pills and hay fever medications increased the risk of dementia. The study found a link in people taking these drugs for 3 years or more.

Note that many drugs have anticholinergic action. These include some tiotropium-containing medications used to treat respiratory conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, as well as depression medications and those containing solifenacin for overactive bladder problems. In general, we therefore find antidepressants, anxiolytics, antiepileptics, antitussives, antihypertensives, diuretics, antihistamines and anti-asthmatics.

Fortunately, natural remedies exist to fight against certain pathologies including allergies and insomnia, and this without any side effects or danger to health!

Natural Remedies for Allergy and Insomnia

It is often possible to treat problems like allergies and insomnia without turning to drugs. Here are some remedies to try:

Allergies

- Use essential oils effective in case of allergy. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology suggests that peppermint oil acts as a relaxant and has antispasmodic activity, inhibiting the contractions that make you cough.

- If you have an allergy to ragweed, avoid melons, bananas, cucumbers, sunflower seeds, echinacea and chamomile because they can trigger an allergic reaction.

- Broth of chicken, beef or lamb helps relieve breathing problems. It also helps to reduce inflammation in the body and stimulates the immune system. Studies conducted by the University of Nebraska Medical Center have shown that amino acids in bone broth reduce inflammation in the respiratory system and therefore allergies.

Insomnia

- Try valerian root as a cure for sleep. Infuse 2 to 3 g of dried root for 5 to 10 minutes in 150 ml of boiling water. Take a cup of this infusion 30 to 60 minutes before going to bed. This will help you fall asleep and relax you. Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the use of valerian to remedy nervous agitation and anxiety and the sleep disorders that result.

- Set the temperature of your room between 16 and 19 ° C. According to the authors of the book "Sleep: Better Sleep", Dr. Jérôme Lefrançois and Véronique Deschamps, this adjustment of the room temperature favors falling asleep because the body also reduces its temperature.

- Eat melatonin-rich foods to help you sleep fast, such as bananas, cherries, ginger or radishes as a bedtime snack. Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by your body. It is produced by the pineal gland in the brain but also in other areas, such as the eyes, bone marrow and intestine. It is often called the "sleep hormone" because it regulates sleep cycles.

Caution :

The use of peppermint essential oil is not recommended for children under 3 years old. It is also banned internally for people with gall bladder inflammation, bile duct obstruction or severe liver disease.